The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) offers a superior camera for enhanced video calls and a faster processor, but not the best audio quality or screen resolution.
The Amazon Echo Show 8 hasn’t been around long, but in that time it’s really owned its role as the middle child of the Echo Show lineup. By providing more features and functionality than the Amazon Echo Show 5 at a significantly lower price than the Amazon Echo Show 10, the Amazon Echo Show provides heaps of value for the money. What the second generation of the mid-range smart display aims to provide is a new 13-megapixel wide-angle camera that digitally pans and zooms during video calls and a new octa-core processor that helps the display switch between apps faster. You’ve also got dual stereo speakers on board and the eponymous 8-inch HD screen with adaptive color. The result, so far, feels like a functional and aesthetically pleasing smart display that can make calls to family and friends and play your favorite songs and shows from services like Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Prime Video. We’re still unsure if it’s worth upgrading from an original Echo Show 8 for any of the new features, but if you’re a newcomer to the smart home space and looking for a smart display, the all-new Amazon Echo Show 8 could be a good option for you. The Amazon Echo Show 8 will be available starting on June 9, 2021 for $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$199 in two colors, Charcoal and Glacier White. For comparison, the Amazon Echo Show 10 costs $249.99 / £239.99 / AU$399.99, while the new Amazon Echo Show 5 (Gen.2) costs $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119. The Amazon Echo Show 8 falls nicely in between those two, and is a nice middle ground in terms of price and functionality. That said, not only is the Amazon Echo Show 8 the mid-range champion of Amazon’s lineup, but it’s also priced right in between the new Google Nest Hub 2 and Google Nest Hub Max as well. We’ll compare the two down below, but if you’re only looking at the sticker price, the Echo Show 8 has the clear advantage here. Admittedly, there’s not a huge difference aesthetically between the old Amazon Echo Show 8 and the new Amazon Echo Show 8 – the shells are pretty much identical. On the front bezel you’ll find the new 13MP camera and the 8-inch 1280 x 800 resolution display, but otherwise there’s nothing else to see there. On top of the Echo Show 8 are the control buttons for volume up/down and Alexa, but there’s also the mute button that turns off the microphone and a slide to cover up the camera. It’s a non-negotiable for privacy enthusiasts, and it’s great to have it here. Speaking of the microphones, the Echo Show 8 (2021) also has the same four-microphone configuration as the previous iteration that work at a medium to long range and should be able to hear you over the sound of loud music – though, sometimes you might have to repeat yourself a few times for Alexa to hear you.
